Ballistic electrometer



Jan, 6, 1953 w. P. JESSE Err AL 2,624,847

BALLISTIC ELECTROMETER Filed Sept. 4, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 H u u Q I i gl L uw 2Q N55@ N `3 by Il!" g u s RMB Jan. 6, 1953 w. P. JESSE ET A1. 2,624,847

BALLISTIC ELECTROMETER Filed. Sept. 4, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan, 6, 1953 w. P. JESSE Er AL 2,624,847

BALLISTIC ELECTROMETER Filed Sept. 4, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 6, 1953 BALLISTIC ELECTROMETER William P. Jesse, Chicago, Ill., and James W.

Broxon, Boulder, and William H. Hinch, Denver, Colo., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,403

4 Claims. l

The present invention relates to apparatus for the detection and measurement of electrical currents of small magnitude, as for example, the very small currents produced in an ion chamber which is subjected to low intensity electro-magnetic radiation.

y In the past, it has been more or less common practice to utilize Geiger-Mller counters, or similar devices for the detection of the very small currents loccuring in ion chambers as an incident to radiation produced ionization, but there Aare various diiliculties inherent in these devices and the elaborate scaling circuits required in connection therewith which have seriously limited their usefulness. Especially undesirable are the need for the services of highly skilled operators to opv crate such devices, the relative non-suitability of the devices for accomplishing current measurement, as contrasted with mere detection, and the diculty of recording .the observed phenomenon.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved novel apparatus -for the detection, measurement, and recordation cfextremely small electric currents, and especially the very small ion currents produced in ion chambers which are subjected to low intensity radiation.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of novel apparatus, in accordance -with the stated principal object, which shall be simple in design, which can be constructed of readily available commercial parts, and which, in addition, shall be substantially automatic in its operation.

These objects are accomplished by the provision of a novel combination of circuit elements and a novel method of connecting and operating those-elements. The various features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent in the following description and the accompanying drawings of one preferred embodiment thereoi.A In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram -of a measuring and recording apparatus constructed .in .accordance with the invention; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are illustrative reproductions o tape sections from the recording type indicating instrument forming a part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l, the tape sections illustrating different conditions of operation of the apparatus. e

(Cl. Z50-83.6)

Generally stated, the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises five main parts. These include, since the apparatus is adapted for the detection and measurement of electromagnetic radiation: an ion chamber 5; a direct current amplifier 1; a recording type, ballistic, indicating instrument 9, connected to -receive the output from the ampliiier 1; a power supply means II; vand switching means I3, which is automatically operable, to conduct charges collected in the ion chamber 5 to the inputside of the direct current amplifier.

The mode of operation of the apparatus is such that a charge is placed upon the electrodes I5 and I1 of the ion chamber 5, and this charge is permitted to decay for a predetermined period of time. This is accomplished by alternately connecting the ion chamber 5 between two conditions rst, across a power supply means II and, second, in a'condition in which the center electrode I5 is permitted to oat for a predetermined period of time. During this period of time the electrodes I5 and I1 are maintained at the potential differences placed upon them by the power supply means II due to the ion chamber capacity, except for the decaying of the charge as a result of incident radiations. The radiations will ionize the ygas within the ion chamber 5, the electrons liberated in the formation of the ions will be attracted to the positive electrode and the ions will `migrate to the negative electrode, thus discharging the ion chamber 5 in proportion to the amount of radiation received by the ion vchamber 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure l, the outer electrode I1 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply means II and the center electrode I5 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply means II. At the end of the predetermined time period, the charge on the ion chamber 5 is then conducted, by operation of the switching means I 3, to the input side of the direct current vamplifier 1, thereby producing an impulse which, when amplied by the amplier l, will actuate the recording type, ballistic, indicating instrument 9. By the use of automatically operable switching means, these operations are caused to take place automatically and in proper sequence, and they may be continued for as long a period as is desired. Further, since the collecting period may be extended to periods of minutes, or even hours, it becomes possible to use the apparatus to measure and record -radiations which produce a current of lower magnitude than the normal control current of the amplifier. This procedure, in effect, increases the sensitivity of the apparatus far beyond the normal sensitivity of the component parts thereof.

The ion chamber 5 is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, and it may be of any conventional type It includes a hollow outer electrode I1, conveniently of cylindrical form, which is permeable to the radiation which it is desired to measure, an inner or collecting electrode I5 which conveniently comprises a solid metallic rod located ceni trally of the outer electrode I1, and a voltage gradient reducing shield I9 which conveniently comprises a short metallic tube located in the region where the inner electrode I5 passes out of the chamber. The ion chamber 5 is sealed, and for maximum sensitivity, it should be gas-filled and the inner or collecting electrode should be as highly insulated as is possible. some other of the inert vgases are suitable gases, and for maximum sensitivity the gas should be maintained at as great a pressure asis possible.

The power supply unit II is likewise of conventional design, and preferably is of an electrontube type with voltage stabilizing means embodied therein. The power supply unit I I shown in Fig. 1 is energized from an ordinary 115 volt, 60 cycle supply line, and is arranged to deliver 250 volts D. C. at the output terminals thereof. The negative side of the power supply output is grounded, and the positive side is connected vby the conductor 2| to the outer electrode I1 of the ion chamber 5. The ion chamber shield I9 'is also grounded, as illustrated.

The recording type indicating instrument 9 should include a ballistic movement which is substantially dead-beat and which gives a full scale indication with about 20 to 25 microamperes flowing through the instrument. Particularly suitable are the recording type instruments manufactured by the General Electric Company, which include a photoelectric amplifying and pen control system intermediate a sensitive galvanometer unit, which is arranged to receive the input to the instrument, and the recording pen. These instruments give full -scale deflection vfor an input current of 20 microamperes. The pen unit moves sidewise of a paper tape which is advanced by a constant speed clock unit. 'Ihe pen attains full scale position in approximately .6 second, and the pen assembly is completely deadbeat. Such an instrument is indicated at 9 in Fig. 1, and is shown as being energized from an external source of alternating current power.'

While any of the known types of direct current amplifiers can be used in conjunction with the apparatus of the invention, the most satisfactory results are obtained by the use of a two-stage, electron tube amplifier which utilizes a low interelectrode capacity pentode of the type normally employed for detector or amplier use in the first stage thereof, and which utilizes a conventional medium inter-electrode capacity pentode amplifier in the second stage thereof. The Acorn-type pentode sold under the distinguishing number 959 is exemplary of the tubes which are suitable for the first stage, and the pentode 1A5 is exemplary of the tube types which are suitable for use in the second stage.

In the particular amplifier illustrated in Fig.

1, there is one very important departure from Argon and constitute a voltage divider.

conventional practices is direct current amplifier circuits. Specifically, suppressor grid 33 of the No. 959 Acorn tube is used as the control grid, and the conventional control grid 34 is connected to the negative side of the filament 3I, the conventional connection for the suppressor grid. The novel features of the amplifier are more fully described and claimed in the copending application of Darol K. Froman, William H. Hinch and Richard J. Watts, Serial No. 646,947, filed February 11, 1946. This arrangement of the grids coupled with a substantial readjustment of the tube operating potentials has been found to greatly increase the sensitivity of the amplifier to small currents. The normal operating current of the suppressor grid of the 959 tube is approximately 10-13 amperes and is substantially constant over a reasonable range of grid voltages.

Considering the amplifier circuit in detail, the various operating voltages are supplied by means of a series of resistances which are connected to These resistances include a wire wound tapped resistor 23 of approximately 5000 ohms total resistance, which is connected at one end to the positive bus 2|, and is connected at the other end to the positive side of the filament 25 of the 1A5 or second amplifier tube. The negative side of the filament 25 is connected to one end of a 200 ohms resistance 21, which supplies the proper bias on the screen grid 29 of the 959 tube in the first stage of the amplifier, and the other end of that resistance 21 is connected to the positive side of the lament 3| of the 959 tube. The negative side of the filament 3I of the 959 tube is connected to ground through a grid bias resistance 32 for the grid 33, which is used as the control grid for that tube, of 120 ohms.

The plate 35 for the 959 tube is operated at a potential of only about 8 volts above that of the negative side of the filament 3I of that tube, and this `voltage is obtained by connecting the plate 35 to the upper end of the main voltage divider resistance 23 through a 1 megohm plate load resistor 31 and a variable connection 39. The suppressor grid 33 of the 959 tube, which is used as the control grid, is connected to ground through a grid-leak resistor 4I having a resistance of l012 ohms, and during normal operating conditions, the grid 33 will be maintained at a voltage approximately v6 volts below the voltage of the negative side of the filament 3 I, this bias voltage being provided by the resistor 32.

The suppressor grid 43 of the 1A5 tube in the second-stage is connected to the negative side of the filament 25 of that tube, as illustrated. The control grid 45 is tied to the plate 35 of the first stage tube, and the screen Vgrid 41 is maintained at a potential approximately 90 volts above that of the negative side of the filament 25 by means of a variable tap 49 into the main section of the voltage divider. The plate 5I* of the second amplifier tube is connected to the positive voltage bus 2I through a 30,000 ohms loading resistance 53 which Iprovides a potential at the plate 5I of approximately 120 volts. The positive input terminal 55 for the indicating instrument 9 is connected to theplate 5I of the second-stage amplifier tube through a 20,000 ohm resistance 51, and the negative terminal 59 is connected to a suitable point on the voltage resistance 23 by means of a variable tap 6I.

The operation of the amolier circuit apart from the novel arrangement followed in connecting the first amplifier' or electrometer tube Y function of the characteristics of the tube itself.

The grid 33 of the tube is carefully insulated from the other elements of the circuit to avoid leakage currents, since leakage to ground will decrease the potential diierence between the center electrode and ground and result in unstable readings which Will indicate higher radiation than the radiation actually existing. Since the current in the grid circuit of the 959 tube is exceedingly small, it does not cause any appreciable lowering of grid potential. An increase in the voltage drop across the plate load resistor 31 results from the increase in plate current, and this voltage drop decreases the potential on the plate 3-5 of the 959 tube and on the control grid of the 1A5 tube in the second stage of the amplier, which grid is tied to the plate 35. A decrease in the plate current of the 1A5 tube results from the decrease of potential on the control grid 45 of the 1A5 tube. The current now through the plate load resistor 53 for the 1A5 tube is likewise decreased, and as a result the voltage applied to the terminals of the recording instrument 9 is increased.

Since the application of any charge collected on the collecting electrode I5 to the control grid 33 of the 959 tube in the first amplier stage thus decreases the amplier output, the recording instrument and the various circuit elements are adjusted so that the zero setting of the instrument corresponds to the normal full scale position of the recording pen, or other indicating element. This adjustment can be conveniently effected by adjustment of the potential applied to the screen grid 41 of the 1A5 tube by means of the variable connection 49, and by adjustment of the Variable connection 6I which controls the Voltage applied to the recording instrument 9.

The amplifier is preferably surrounded by a' grounded electrostatic shield, not shown. This may conveniently comprise a sheet metal enclosure of the conventional type.

The switching means I3 is arranged tol accomplish a certain desired sequence of operations. First, it is operable to ground the collecting electrode I5 of the ion chamber 5 for a short interval of time: it is then operableto isolate that electrode for a predetermined interval of time during which period the control grid 33 of the rst stage tube in the direct current amplier 'I is maintained at ground potential: and upon the elapse of the predetermined time interval, the switching means I3 is operable to disconnect the control grid 33 of the first amplifier tube from ground and to connect that grid to the collecting electrode I5 of the ion chamber in order that the charge accumulated thereon may be conducted to that grid. This charge raises the potential of the grid 33 so as to provide an impulse which when amplied by the amplier accomplishes ballistic movement of the indicating instrument. Since the switching means I3 is automatically operable to effect this series of connections in a successive and repetitive manner, the operation of the apparatus becomes substantially automatic. and once the proper collecting interval and speed of the recording tape have been selected, the ap- -paratus will automatically obtain any desired 4series of readings. l Y

Various types of switching arrangements oper able toaccomplish the sequence of operation set forth above may obviously be devised. An exemplary arrangement is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. This includes a pair of battery operated magnetic contactors or relays 63 and 65. The relay 63 is a single pole single throw type, normally biased to the open position shown in the drawings, and operable when energized to close the re- ,lay contacts 66 and 61. The contacts 66 and 67 are connected by conductors 69 and 'Ill so as to lconnect the collecting electrode I5 of the ion chamber to ground when the relay 63 is closed.

The energizing battery II for this relay is connected to the relay operating coil 'I2 through a pair of normally separated spring contacts 'i3 and 14 which are adapted to be moved to the closed position for a short interval of time by the rotation of a cam wheel I5 which is driven in counterclockwise direction by a variable speed motor 1i.

The other relay 65 is of the single pole, double throw type and is normally biased to the position shown in Fig. 1. When in this position the movable contact arm 'I9 provides a circuit from the control grid 33 of the irst amplifier tube to ground through the contact 80 and the conductor 8|. When the operating coil 8'? for this relay is energized, the contact arm 'i9 moves out of contact with the contact 8G, which is connected to ground, and into contact with the other relay contact 85 which is connected to thecollecting electrode I5 of the ion chamber 5, as illustrated. This operation thus disconnects the control grid 33 of the rst ampliiier tube from ground and immediately thereafter connects that grid to the collecting electrode I5 of the ion chamber. The

' v operating coil 87 for the relay 65 is adaptedto be 93 is driven in the clockwisedirection, and it is intended that its position may be angularly adjusted relative to the other cam operating wheel 'I5 in order that the collecting interval may be varied to suit any particular condition.

To minimize disturbances in the system inci- .dent to relay operation, it is desirable that the relays 63 and 65 shall be of a relatively sensitive type, and that the entire switching and relay structure be enclosed in a groundedsheet metal shield (not shown). It is also desirable to provide a resistance across the relay operating coils, as uiustrated at 95, to minimize disturbances incident to inductive decay following each operation of the relays 53 and 65. Since extremely small currents are handled i these devices, the insulation at the relay contacts 56, 19, 89, and must be particularly good, and it is recommended that amber or some equivalent material be employed between these contacts and all conductors which are maintained at ground or at some other potential. Likewise the reliability and sensitivity of the system 'isy dependent to a large extent upon the quality of the insulation maintained at the collecting electrode I5 of the ion chamber 5. Itis essential that the best of available materials be used at this point, and it is not recommended that attempts be made to use the apparatus unless an ion chamber having-a highly insulating collecting electrode is available. In general, it appears that insulation which'provides Ya resistance between the collecting electrode and the other'electrode of the ion chamber of the order of 1015 ohms or more is satisfactory for the measure- `ment of currents of the order of -14 amperes in a Acircuit such as has been described.

During the operation of the apparatus, the power should be turned on for a sufiicient period to stabilize the amplier tubes and the recording type indicating instrument. The collecting period should beI adjusted by relative angular movement of the operating cams 'l5 and 93, or by Vchanges in the speed of the driving motor 11 for "those'cams, to provide a collecting period for the ion chamber which will yield approximately full scale deflection for the maximum ion current which will be encountered.

Adjustment of the speed'of the recording tape mayalso be found'desirable. If the'apparatus'is 'being-used to takea series of readings which will not'vary substantially over a considerable period ottime, it may be found desirable to operate the tape'feed of the'recording instrument 'at lowv speed, thereby spacing the individual ballistic `swings of the recording pen relatively close together. Such a recording is illustrated in Fig. 3. In other instances, it may be desired to space the readings aparta substantial distance on the recording tape, as'when it is desired to observe a rapidly changing phenomenon, and in such lnstancesthe speed of the tape should be such that the individual indicationsare separated by a substantial interval, this type of reading being illustrated by the reproduction'of a tape sample which appears in Fig. 2.

'The apparatus described above finds particular utility for the continuous measurement of radiation intensitiesfas for example, in the measurement and recording of the intensities of the'radiations emanated by a radioactive material during the decay period thereof. When so used, a sample of the lradioactive material will be placed in proximity to the ion chamber 5, with such 4shields as may be necessary, to obtainthe'desired 'ion intensity within the chamber. With the apparatus so arranged, the successive vand repeti- `tive 'character of the readings obtained, by virtue of the completely automatic operation of the switching means I3," makes Ypossible aV complete series 'ofl intensity readings, 'extending over a period of hours oreven days. Furthermore, these -readings Amay 'be lobtained with almostno super- `vision'of theapparatus. The'automatic `character of'theapparatus cannot be'too strongly em- Yphasizedysince this is'one of the most trouble- :sulting fromthe method of operation and the `circuit'arrangement'disclosed is the ability of the fapparatus to .measure average currents (which "persist for a reasonable period of time) of the order of 10" amperes, or less, by the use of an electron tube. direct current amplifier employing V`tubes which individually lrequire-a control current of at least 10-13 amperes. This is a most important characteristic o'f the apparatus -and method of the invention, because it permits ultrasensitive devices to be constructed from commercially available materialaand in fact, makes possible a device whose overall sensitivity is 10 or even times as great as the sensitivity of the component elements thereof. The features of the invention which are believed to be new are expressly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of continuously measuring and recording small ion currents with an ionization chamber circuit having, in series, an ionization chamber, a constant potential power source, and a high impedance comprising'the steps of repetitively connecting the ionization chamber across the power source tc charge the chamber, disconnecting the ionization chamber from the power source and velectrically isolating the chamber from other electrical elements for a constant period of time, and connecting the ionization chamber, high impedance and power source ina series circuit.

2. Apparatus for the measurement of small ion currents having an ionization chamber circuit including an ionization chamber, a high impedance, and a constant potential power source, an amplifier having an input connected across the high impedance and an output, and indicating means connected to the output of the amplier characterized by the construction comprising switching means'disposed between the ionization chamber and the high impedance, said switching means repetitively connecting the ionization chamber aross the constant potential power source, disconnecting the ionization chamber from the power source and isolating the chamber from the other electrical elements of the circuit for a constant period of time, and connecting the ionization chamber is a series circuit with the constant potential power source and the high impedance.

3. Apparatus for the measurement of radiation comprising, in combination: an ion chamber having an insulated center electrode, a source of clectrical charge, means to measure electrical charge, and a synchronous repetitious switching' mechanism firstly connecting the ion chamber to the source of charge, secondly disconnecting it, and thirdly connecting it to the means to measure theelectrical charge, said mechanism .includingr a shaft, lmeans to rotate the'shaft at a constant rate, two cam wheels attached to the shaft, two

electrical switches normally in an open position. each switch having ali-activating member, and

l:said activating member being mounted to engage a cam at least once upon each rotation of that cam wheel, one of said switches connecting the means to measure the electrical charge alternately to the center electrode of the ion @han ber and to ground and the other of said switches connecting the center electrode of the ion chamber t0 ground.

4. Apparatus for the measurment of radiation comprising, in combination: an ion chamber having an insulated center electrode, a source of electrical charge, means to measure electrical charge including an amplifier and a recording instrument, and a synchronous repetitions switching mechanism iirstly connecting the icn chamber to the source of electrical charge, secondly disconnecting it, and thirdly connecting it to the means to measure electrical charge, said mechanism including a shaft, means to rotate the shaft at a constant rate, two cam wheels at- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

19 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,035,204 Leich et al. Aug. 13, 1912 1,855,669 Glasser et a1 Apr. 26, 1932 2,081,074 Strauss May 18, 1937 2,122,222 Vengerhoets June 28, 1938 2,220,602 Hellmann Nov. 5, 1940 2,343,885 Coleman Mar. 14, 1944 2,351,028 Fearon June 13, 1944 2,361,295 Kanner et al Oct. 24, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Queen, Radio-Craft, July 1944, pages 602, 603. 

